In law, a conviction occurs when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime, either through a guilty plea, a jury trial verdict, or a trial by judge. The opposite result is an acquittal. In some regions like Scotland, there is a special verdict called "not proven", which also functions as an acquittal. After conviction, courts assign a sentence as punishment, while the conviction may also cause collateral consequences affecting employment and travel. Appeals and post conviction relief exist to address potential errors or miscarriages of justice.